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Matthew Chapter 1​

The Genealogy

of Jesus Christ


1 The book of the

genealogy of Jesus Christ,

the Son of David, the

Son of Abraham:

2 Abraham begot

Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob,

and Jacob begot Judah

and his brothers
.
3 Judah begot Perez

and Zerah by Tamar,

Perez begot Hezron, and

Hezron begot Ram.

4 Ram begot

Amminadab,

Amminadab begot

Nahshon, and Nahshon

begot Salmon.

5 Salmon begot Boaz

by Rahab, Boaz begot

Obed by Ruth, Obed

begot Jesse,

6 and Jesse begot

David the king. David

the king begot Solomon

by her who had been

the wife of Uriah.

7 Solomon begot

Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot

Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.

8 Asa begot

Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat begot

Joram, and Joram

begot Uzziah.

9 Uzziah begot

Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz,

and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.

10 Hezekiah begot

Manasseh, Manasseh

begot Amon, and Amon

begot Josiah.

11 Josiah begot

Jeconiah and his brothers

about the time they were

carried away to Babylon.
 

12 And after they

were brought to Babylon,

Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and

Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.

13 Zerubbabel begot

Abiud, Abiud begot

Eliakim, and Eliakim

begot Azor.

14 Azor begot

Zadok, Zadok begot

Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.

15 Eliud begot Eleazar,

Eleazar begot Matthan,

and Matthan begot Jacob.

16 And Jacob begot

Joseph the husband

of Mary, of whom

was born Jesus who

is called Christ.
 

17 So all the generations

from Abraham to David

are fourteen generations,

from David until the

captivity in Babylon are

fourteen generations, and

from the captivity

in Babylon until

the Christ are

fourteen generations.
 

Christ Born of Mary


18 Now the birth of

Jesus Christ was as follows:

After His mother Mary was

betrothed to Joseph,

before they came

together, she was

found with child

of the Holy Spirit.

19 Then Joseph her

husband, being a just man,

and not wanting to make

her a public example,

was minded to put her

away secretly.

“Put​ ​her​ ​away”​ ​

“Divorce”

​Divorce​ ​has​ ​hurt​ ​many​ ​people,

​ ​especially​ ​children.​​ ​Divorce​ ​is​ ​more

painful​ ​than​ ​death. ​Death​ ​is​ ​God’s​

​divine​ ​separation​ ​of​ ​marriage.

​Divorce​ ​is​ ​man’s​ ​choice​

​of separation.

 

“Malachi​ ​2:16”

​ ​​ ​​ ​For​ ​the​ ​Lord​ ​God​ ​of​ ​Israel​

​   says ​that​ ​He​ ​hates​ ​divorce,​

​    for​ ​it​ ​covers​ ​one’s garment​

​with​ ​violence,​ ​says​ ​the​

​Lord​ ​of​ ​Hosts.

​Therefore​ ​take​ ​heed​

  ​to​ ​your​ ​spirit, ​

​that​ ​you​ ​do not

​ ​deal​ ​treacherously

20 But while he

thought about these things,

behold, an angel of the

Lord appeared to him

in a dream, saying,

"Joseph, son of David,

do not be afraid to take

to you Mary your wife,

for that which is 

conceived in her is

of the Holy Spirit.

21 And she will bring forth a Son,

and you shall call His name Jesus,

for He will save His people

from their sins."

“His​ ​people”

​​ ​All​ ​who​ ​receive​

​the​ ​gift​ ​of​ ​salvation,

​ ​from​ ​our​ ​Savior​ ​and​ ​Lord,​

​Jesus​ ​Christ.

 

“Sins”

​ ​Separation​ ​from​ ​God

 

“Luke​ ​19:10”

​ ​For​ ​the​ ​Son​ ​of​ ​man​

​has​ ​come​ ​to​ ​seek​

​and​ ​to​ ​save​ ​that​

​which​ ​was​ ​lost.

 

“John​ ​14:6”

​ ​Jesus​ ​said​ ​to​ ​him,

​“​I​ ​am​ ​the​ ​way​, the​ ​truth,​

​and​ ​the​ ​life.​​ ​No​ ​one​

​comes​ ​to​ ​the​ ​father

except​ ​through​ ​me.”

22 So all this was

done that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken by the Lord

through the prophet, saying:
 

23 "Behold, the virgin

shall be with child, and

bear a Son, and they

shall call His name

"Emmanuel,"

which is translated,

"God with us."

The​ ​first​ ​recorded​ ​believers​

​were​ ​Mary​ ​and​ ​Joseph

24 Then Joseph,

being aroused from sleep,

 did as the angel of the

Lord commanded

him and took to

him his wife,

25 and did not

know her till she had

brought forth her firstborn Son.

And he called His name Jesus.





 

 

 

 

 Matthew Chapter 2

    Wise Men from the East


1 Now after Jesus

was born in Bethlehem of

Judea in the days of Herod the king,

behold, wise men from the east

came to Jerusalem,

“Behold”

​ ​Be​ ​attentive, ​ ​listen, ​ ​look

 

“Wise​ ​men”

​ ​The​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​were​ ​believers,

​ ​wise​ ​men​ ​seek​ ​Jesus.

2 saying,"Where is He

who has been born King of the Jews?

For we have seen His star in the east

and have come to worship Him."

3 When Herod the

king heard this, he was

troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had

gathered all the chief priests and

scribes of the people together, he inquired

of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 So they said

to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea,

for thus it is written by the prophet:

6 'But you, Bethlehem,

in the land of Judah, are not

the least among the rulers of

Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler

who will shepherd My people Israel.' 

7 Then

Herod, when he had

secretly called the wise men,

determined from them what

time the star appeared.
 

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said,

"Go and search carefully for the young Child,

and when you have found Him, bring

back word to me, that I may come

and worship Him also."
 

9 When they heard

the king, they departed; and

behold, the star which they had seen

in the east went before them, till it

came and stood over where

the young Child was.
 

10 When they

saw the star, they rejoiced

with exceedingly great joy.

11 And when they

had come into the house, they

saw the young Child with Mary His

mother, and fell down and worshiped

Him. And when they had opened their

treasures, they presented gifts to

Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being

divinely warned in a dream

that they should not return to Herod, they

departed for their own country another way.
                  

 The Flight into Egypt


13 Now when

they had departed, behold,

an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph

in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child

and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there

until I bring you word; for Herod will seek

the young Child to destroy Him."

14 When he arose,

he took the young Child and 

His mother by night and departed for Egypt,
 

15 and was there

until the death of Herod, that

it might be fulfilled which was spoken

by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

"Out of Egypt I called My Son."

The Massacre of the Innocents


16 Then

Herod, when he saw

that he was deceived by the

wise men, was exceedingly angry;

and he sent forth and put to death

all the male children who were in

Bethlehem and in all its districts,

from two years old and under,

according to the time which he

had determined from the wise men.

17 Then was

fulfilled what was spoken

by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

18 "A voice was heard in Ramah,

Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children,

refusing to be comforted,

because they are no more."

 The Home in Nazareth

19 But when

Herod was dead, behold,

an angel of the Lord appeared in

a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20 saying, "Arise, take the young Child

and His mother, and go to the land of Israel,

for those who sought the young

Child's life are dead."

21 Then he

arose, took the young Child

and His mother, and came into

the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus

was reigning over Judea instead of his

father Herod, he was afraid to go there.

And being warned by God in a dream,

he turned aside into the region of Galilee.

23 And he came and dwelt in a city

called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken by the prophets,

"He shall be called a Nazarene."
 

Matthew Chapter 3

John The Baptist Paves The Way


1 In those

days John the Baptist

came preaching in the

wilderness of Judea,

2 and saying, "Repent, for the

kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

“Repent”​

​ ​A​ ​change​ ​of​ ​heart,

​ ​ ​turn​ ​from​ ​evil,

​ ​​ ​turn​ ​from​ ​sin,

​ ​ ​return​ ​to​ ​God.

 

“Acts​ ​3:19”

​ ​Repent​ ​therefore​ ​and​ ​be​ ​converted,

​ ​that​ ​your​ ​sins​ ​may​ ​be​ ​blotted​ ​out,

​ ​so​ ​that​ ​times of​ ​refreshing​ ​may​

​come from​ ​the​ ​presence​ ​

of​ ​the​ ​Lord.

3 For this is

he who was spoken of

by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

'Prepare the way of the Lord;

make His paths straight."

4 And John

himself was clothed in

camel's hair, with a leather belt

around his waist; and his food

was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then Jerusalem,

all Judea, and all the

region around the Jordan

went out to him

6 and were

baptized by him in the

Jordan, confessing their sins.

“Baptized”​

​A​ ​public​ ​statement​ ​of​ ​dying​ ​to​ ​self,

​ ​and​ ​rising​ ​to​ ​a​ ​new​ ​life​ ​in​ ​Christ,

​ ​our​ ​Savior​ ​and Lord.

 

“Acts​ ​22:16”​

​ ​And​ ​now​ ​why​ ​are​ ​you​ ​waiting,

​ ​arise​ ​and​ ​be​ ​baptized,

​ ​and​ ​wash​ ​away​ ​your​ ​sins,

calling​ ​on​ ​the​ ​name​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Lord.

 

“Confessing​ ​sins”​

​ ​A​ ​simple​ ​prayer,

​ ​Father​ ​forgive​ ​me

​ ​for​ ​I​ ​have​ ​sinned.

 

“1​ ​John​ ​1:9”​

​If​ ​we​ ​confess​ ​our​ ​sins,

​ ​He​ ​is​ ​faithful​ ​and​ ​just

​ ​to​ ​forgive​ ​us​ ​our​ ​sins

​ ​and​ ​to​ ​cleanse us​ ​from

​ ​all​ ​unrighteousness.

7 But when he saw

many of the Pharisees and

Sadducee's coming to his baptism,

he said to them, "Brood of vipers!

Who warned you to flee from

the wrath to come?

8 Therefore bear fruits

worthy of repentance,

“Romans​ ​6:22”​

​But​ ​now​ ​having​ ​been​ ​set​ ​free​ ​from​ ​sin,

​ ​and​ ​having​ ​become​ ​slaves​ ​of​ ​God,

​ ​you have​ ​your​ ​fruit​ ​to​ ​holiness,​

​and​ ​the​ ​end,​ ​everlasting​ ​life.

9 and do not

think to say to yourselves,

'We have Abraham as our father.'

For I say to you that God

is able to raise up children

to Abraham from these stones.

10 And even

now the ax is laid to the

root of the trees. Therefore every tree

which does not bear good fruit is cut

down and thrown into the fire.

11 I indeed baptize you with water

unto repentance, but He who is coming

after me is mightier than I, whose sandals

I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize

you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
 

" Holy Spirit and Fire"
“Acts​ ​2:1-4”​

​When​ ​the​ ​Day​ ​of​ ​Pentecost​ ​had​ ​fully​ ​come,

​ ​they​ ​were​ ​all​ ​with​ ​one​ ​accord​ ​in​ ​one place,

​ ​and ​suddenly​ ​there​ ​came​ ​a​ ​sound​ ​from

​ ​heaven, as​ ​of​ ​a​ ​rushing​ ​mighty​ ​wind,

​ ​and​ ​it​ ​filled the​ ​whole​ ​house​ ​where

​ ​they​ ​were​ ​sitting.​​​ ​Then​ ​there​

​appeared​ ​to​ ​them​ ​divided​ ​tongues,​

​as​ ​of fire,​ ​and​ ​one​ ​sat​ ​upon​ ​each​ ​of​ ​them,​

​and​ ​they were​ ​all​ ​filled​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Holy​ ​Spirit​

​and​ began​ ​to speak​ ​with​ ​other​ ​tongues,​

​as​ ​the​ ​Spirit​ ​gave​ ​them​ ​utterance.

12 His winnowing

fan is in His hand, and

He will thoroughly clean out

His threshing floor, and gather

His wheat into the barn;

but He will burn up the

chaff with unquenchable fire."

“Winnowing​ ​fan”​

​To​ ​blow​ ​chaff​ ​from​ ​grain

 

“Wheat”​

​ ​Believers

 

“Chaff”​

​Unbelievers

John Baptizes Jesus


13 Then Jesus

came from Galilee to John

at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

14 And John

tried to prevent Him, saying,

"I need to be baptized by You,

and are You coming to me?"

15 But Jesus

answered and said to him,

"Permit it to be so now, for thus it is

fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."

Then he allowed Him.

Jesus​ ​is​ ​our​ ​only​ ​righteousness

 

“2​ ​Corinthians​ ​5:21”​

​ ​For​ ​He​ ​made​ ​Him​ ​who​ ​knew​ ​no​ ​sin

​ ​to​ ​be​ ​sin​ ​for​ ​us,​ ​that​ ​we​ ​might​ ​become

the​ ​righteousness​ ​of​ ​God​ ​in​ ​Him.

16 When He had been baptized,

Jesus came up immediately from the water;

and behold, the heavens were opened to

Him, and He saw the Spirit of God

descending like a dove and

alighting upon Him.

17 And suddenly

a voice came from heaven,

saying, "This is My beloved Son, in

whom I am well pleased."
 

Matthew Chapter 4

​​satan tempts Jesus


1 Then Jesus was

led up by the Spirit into

the wilderness to be tempted

by the devil.

“Tempted”​

​ ​As​ ​Jesus​ ​was​ ​tempted,​ ​we​ ​are​ ​tempted.​

​​ ​the​ ​devil​ ​also​ ​tempts​ ​us​ ​with​ ​the​ ​riches​

​of the​ ​world,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​lusts​ ​of​ ​the​ ​flesh.

 

“James​ ​4:7”​

​ ​Therefore​ ​submit​ ​to​ ​God,

​ ​resist​ ​the​ ​devil​ ​and​ ​he​ ​will​

​flee​ ​from​ ​you.

 

“Submit to God”

In Prayer.

2 And when He

had fasted forty days and

forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

3 Now when

the tempter came to Him,

he said, "If You are the Son of God,

command that these stones

become bread."

4 But He answered and said,

"It is written, 'Man shall not live by

bread alone, but by every word that

proceeds from the mouth of God." 

5 Then the

devil took Him up into the

holy city, set Him on the pinnacle

of the temple,

“Pinnacle”​ ​

​The​ ​highest​ ​place​ ​of​ ​the​ ​temple.

6 and said to Him,

"If You are the Son of God,

throw Yourself down. For it is written:

'He shall give His angels charge over you,'

and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' "

7 Jesus said to 
him,

"It is written again,

'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' "
 

8 Again,

the devil took Him up on

an exceedingly high mountain,

and showed Him all the

kingdoms of the world and their glory.

9 And he said to Him,

"All these things I will give You

if You will fall down and worship me."

The​ ​devil​ ​controls​ ​the​ ​sinful​ ​world.

 

“Luke​ ​4:5-7”​

​ ​Then​ ​the​ ​devil,

​ ​taking​ ​Him​ ​up​ ​on

​ ​a​ ​high​ ​mountain,​ ​showed​

​Him​ ​all​ ​the​ ​kingdoms of​ ​the​ ​world​

​in​ ​a​ ​moment​ ​of​ ​time.​​​ ​And​ ​the​ ​devil​

​said​ ​to​ ​Him,​ ​“All​ ​this​ ​authority​ ​I​ ​will

​ ​give​ ​you,​ ​and their​ ​glory,​ ​for​ ​this​

​has​ ​been​ ​delivered​ ​to​ ​me,​ ​and

​ ​I​ ​give​ ​it​ ​to​ ​whomever​ ​I​ ​wish.​

​ ​Therefore,​ ​if​ ​you will​ ​worship​

​before​ ​me,​ ​all​ ​will​ ​be​ ​yours.

10 Then

Jesus said to him,

"Away with you, satan!

For it is written,

'You shall worship

the Lord your God,

and Him only you

shall serve. "

11 Then

the devil left Him,

and behold, angels came

and ministered to Him.

Jesus Begins his Galilean Ministry


12 Now when

Jesus heard that John

 had been put in prison,

He departed to Galilee.

13 And leaving Nazareth,

He came and dwelt in Capernaum,

which is by the sea, in the regions

of Zebulun and Naphtali,

14 that it

might be fulfilled

which was spoken by

Isaiah the prophet, saying:

​15 "The land of Zebulun

and the land of Naphtali,

by the way of the sea,

beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles:

16 The people who sat in darkness

have seen a great light, and upon

those who sat in the region

and shadow of death

light has dawned."

17 From that

time Jesus began to

preach and to say, "Repent,

for the kingdom of heaven

is at hand."

“Repent”​

​Turn​ ​from​ ​sin,​ ​return​ ​to​ ​God.

 

“Acts​ ​3:19”​

​ ​Repent​ ​therefore​ ​and​ ​be​ ​converted,

​ ​that​ ​your​ ​sins​ ​may​ ​be​ ​blotted​ ​out,

​ ​so​ ​that​ ​times of​ ​refreshing​ ​may​

​come​ ​from​ ​the​ ​presence​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Lord.

 

“The​ ​Kingdom​ ​of​ ​Heaven”​

​ ​God’s​ ​presence​ ​on​ ​earth,

​ ​the​ ​presence​ ​of​ ​Jesus​ ​in​ ​us.

​Four Fishermen called as Disciples


18 And Jesus,

walking by the Sea of Galilee,

saw two brothers, Simon called Peter,

and Andrew his brother, casting

a net into the sea; for they

were fishermen.

19 Then He said to them,

"Follow Me, and I will make

you fishers of men."

20 They immediately

left their nets and followed Him.

“Followed​ ​Him”​

​ ​Jesus​ ​is​ ​asking​ ​each​ ​of​ ​us​ ​to​ ​follow​ ​Him,

​ ​by​ ​returning​ ​to​ ​His​ ​presents,​ ​and receiving​

​His​ ​gratuitous​ ​gift​ ​of​ ​Salvation.

21 Going on

from there, He saw

two other brothers, James the

son of Zebedee, and John

his brother, in the boat

with Zebedee their father,

mending their nets.

He called them,

22 and immediately

they left the boat and

their father, and

followed Him.

Jesus Heals a Great Multitude


23 And Jesus went about all

Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,

preaching the gospel of the kingdom,

and healing all kinds of sickness and

all kinds of disease among the people.

“The​ ​gospel​ ​of​ ​the​ ​kingdom”​

​ ​The​ ​good​ ​news​ ​of​ ​salvation

 

“John​ ​3:16”​

​ "​​For​ ​God​ ​so​ ​loved​ ​the​ ​world

​ ​that​ ​He​ ​gave​ ​His​ ​only​ ​begotten​ ​Son,

​ ​that​ ​whoever believes​ ​in​ ​Him​ ​should​

​not​ ​perish​ ​but​ ​have​ ​everlasting​ ​life."

24 Then His fame

went throughout all Syria;

and they brought to Him all sick people

who were afflicted with various diseases

and torments, and those who were

demon-possessed, epileptics,

and paralytics; and

He healed them.

25 Great multitudes followed Him

from Galilee, and from Decapolis,

Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

 

Matthew Chapter 5


Family​ ​and​ ​friends,

​ ​we​ ​are​ ​humbled​ ​and​ ​thankful​

​as​ ​we​ ​share​ ​with​ ​you​ ​many​ ​verses

​ ​that​ ​spoke to​ ​us​ ​from​ ​​our​ ​Lord’s

​ ​Sermon​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Mount.

​ ​​ ​Matthew​ ​chapters​ ​5,​ ​6​ ​and​ ​7.


The Beatitudes


1 And seeing the multitudes,

He went up on a mountain,

and when He was seated

His disciples came to Him. 


2 Then He

opened His mouth

and taught them, saying:

 

Jesus’​ ​disciples​ ​came​ ​to​ ​Him,

​ ​Jesus​ ​will​ ​speak​ ​directly​ ​to​ ​us

​ ​if​ ​we​ ​come​ ​to​ ​Him​ ​in​ ​prayer,

​ ​and read​ ​His​ ​word.

 

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

“​Blessed​”​

​Joy​ ​that​ ​comes​ ​from​

​receiving​ ​divine​ ​favor.

 

“Poor​ ​in​ ​spirit”​​

​ ​To​ ​be​ ​humble.

 

“​The​ ​kingdom​ ​of​ ​heaven​”

​​ ​The​ ​humble​ ​are​ ​always

​ ​in​ ​the​ ​presence​ ​of​ ​God.

 

4 Blessed are

those who mourn, for

they shall be comforted.

 

“​Mourn​”​

​We​ ​mourn​ ​over​ ​our​ ​sinfulness

​ ​and​ ​missing​ ​the​ ​presence​

​of​ ​a​ ​loved​ ​one.

 

5 Blessed are the meek,

For they shall inherit the earth.

 

“​Meek​”

​ ​To​ ​be​ ​gentle​ ​and​ ​giving.

 

6 Blessed are those

who hunger and thirst

for righteousness, for

they shall be filled.

 

“​Righteousness​”​

​We​ ​hunger​ ​and​ ​thirst​ ​for​ ​Jesus,

​ ​Jesus​ ​is​ ​our​ ​righteousness.

 

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they shall obtain mercy.

 

“​Merciful​”​

​ ​Treat​ ​others​ ​with​ ​kindness

 

8 Blessed are

the pure in heart,

for they shall see God.

 

“​Pure​ ​in​ ​heart​”​

​Our​ ​trust​ ​is​ ​completely​ ​in​ ​God,

Father, Son, and​ ​Holy​ ​Spirit.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called sons of God.

“​Peacemakers​”​

​We​ ​are​ ​called​ ​to​ ​live​ ​peacefully​

​in​ ​our​ ​home​ ​and​ ​in​ ​our​ ​hearts,

​ ​sharing​ ​God’s peace​ ​and​

​love​ ​with​ ​others.

“Philippians​ ​4:7”​

​And​ ​the​ ​peace​ ​of​ ​God,​

​which​ ​surpasses​ ​all​ ​understanding,​

​will​ ​guard​ ​your hearts​ ​and​ ​minds

​ ​through​ ​Christ​ ​Jesus.

10 Blessed are

those who are persecuted for

righteousness' sake, for theirs is

the kingdom of heaven. 


11 Blessed are you when they revile

and persecute you, and say all kinds of

evil against you falsely for My sake.

We​ ​are​ ​persecuted​ ​because​ ​

Jesus​ ​lives​ ​in​ ​us.

12 Rejoice and

be exceedingly glad, for

great is your reward in heaven,

for so they persecuted the prophets

who were before you.

​This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​joy​ ​of​ ​being

​ ​a​ ​thankful​ ​child​ ​of​ ​God.

Believers are Salt and Light


13 "You are the

salt of the earth; but if the salt

loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?

It is then good for nothing but to be

thrown out and trampled

underfoot by men." 

As​ ​salt​ ​seasons​ ​food,

​ ​Christian​ ​love​ ​seasons​ ​the​ ​world.

14 You are the light of the world. A

city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 


15 Nor do

they light a lamp

and put it under a basket,

but on a lamp stand,

and it gives light

to all who are

in the house. 


16 Let your light

so shine before men, that

they may see your good works

and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

Amen-so​ ​be​ ​it.

 

“John​ ​8:12”​

​ ​Then​ ​Jesus​ ​spoke​ ​to​ ​them​ ​again,​ ​saying,​

​“​I​ ​am​ ​the​ ​light​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world.​ ​He​ ​who

follows​ ​me​ ​shall​ ​not​ ​walk​ ​in​ ​darkness,​

​but​ ​have​ ​the​ ​light​ ​of​ ​life.​”  

 

Christ Fulfills the Law


17 "Do not think that

I came to destroy the Law or

the Prophets. I did not come to

destroy but to fulfill. 


18 For assuredly, I say to you,

till heaven and earth pass away,

one jot or one tittle will by no means

pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

The​ ​law​ ​was​ ​given​ ​to​

​show​ ​us​ ​we​ ​need​ ​a​ ​Savior.

​ ​​ ​Jesus​ ​fulfilled​ ​the​

​ten​ ​commandments,​

​to save​ ​us.​

 

​​ ​Thank​ ​you​ ​Jesus

19 Whoever therefore

breaks one of the least

of these commandments,

and teaches men so,

shall be called least in

the kingdom of heaven;

but whoever does and

teaches them, he shall

be called great in the

kingdom of heaven. 


20 For I say to you, that

unless your righteousness

exceeds the righteousness

of the scribes and Pharisees,

you will by no means enter

the kingdom of heaven.

 

Jesus​ ​is​ ​our​ ​righteousness;​ ​we​

​receive​ ​and​ ​rest​ ​in​ ​the​ ​righteousness

​ ​of​ ​Jesus.​​​ ​Righteousness that​ ​satisfies​

​God’s​ ​standard​ ​is​ ​faith​ ​in​ ​Jesus​ ​Christ.

 

“Matthew​ ​6:33”​

​ ​​But​ ​seek​ ​first​ ​the​ ​kingdom​ ​of​ ​God

​ ​and​ ​His​ ​righteousness,​ ​and​ ​all​ ​these

​ ​things shall​ ​be​ ​added​ ​to​ ​you.

 

Murder Begins in the Heart


21 "You have heard that

it was said to those of old,

'You shall not murder,

and whoever murders

will be in danger of the judgment.

22 But I say to

you that whoever is angry

with his brother without a cause shall

be in danger of the judgment. And

whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!'

shall be in danger of the council.

But whoever says, 'You fool!'

shall be in danger of hell fire.

“​Without​ ​a​ ​cause​”​

​ ​A​ ​cause​ ​is​ ​when​ ​others​ ​are​ ​denying​

​the​ ​word​ ​of​ ​God​ ​and​ ​leading​ ​people

away​ ​from​ ​the​ ​word​ ​of​ ​God

​ ​thru​ ​false​ ​teaching.

 

“​Raca​”

​​ ​Empty-headed,

worthless.

23 Therefore if

you bring your gift to the altar,

and there remember that your brother

has something against you, 


24 leave your gift there

before the altar, and go your way.

First be reconciled to your brother,

and then come and offer your gift.

If​ ​your​ ​brother

 ​has​ ​something​ ​against​ ​you,

​ ​go​ ​to​ ​him​ ​and​ ​ask​ ​forgiveness.

 

“​Reconciled​”​

​ ​Settle​ ​differences,

​ ​be​ ​friendly.

25 Agree with

your adversary quickly,

while you are on the way with him,

lest your adversary deliver you to the judge,

the judge hand you over to the officer,

and you be thrown into prison. 


26 Assuredly, I say to you,

you will by no means get out of there

till you have paid the last penny.

 

Forgive​

​as​ ​God​ ​forgives,​

​forgiveness​ ​is​ ​life​ ​to​ ​us,

​ ​unforgiveness​ ​is​ ​death​ ​to​ ​us.

​ ​Reconciliation​ ​is blessed​ ​by​ ​God.

 

 Adultery in the Heart


27 "You have heard that it

was said to those of old,

'You shall not commit adultery.'

 

“​Adultery​”​

​ ​Unfaithfulness​ ​in​ ​marriage.

 

“1​ ​Corinthians​ ​6:9-11”​

​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​not​ ​know​ ​that​ ​the​ ​unrighteous​

​will​ ​not​ ​inherit​ ​the​ ​kingdom​ ​of God.

​ ​​ ​Do​ ​not​ ​be​ ​deceived.​​​ ​Neither​ ​fornicators,

​ ​nor​ ​idolaters,​ ​nor​ ​adulterers,

​ ​nor​ ​homosexuals, nor​ ​sodomites,

​ ​nor​ ​thieves,​​ nor​ ​covetous,

​ ​nor​ ​drunkards, ​​nor​ ​revilers,

​ ​nor​ ​extortioners​ ​will​

​inherit the​ ​kingdom​ ​of​ ​God.

​ ​​ ​And​ ​such​ ​were​ ​some​ ​of​ ​you.​

​​ ​But​ ​you​ ​were​ ​washed,​

​but​ ​you​ ​were sanctified,

​ ​but​ ​you​ ​were​ ​justified

​ ​in​ ​the​ ​name​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Lord​ ​Jesus

​ ​and​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Spirit​ ​of​ ​our​ ​God.

28 But I say to you

that whoever looks at a

woman to lust for her has

already committed adultery

with her in his heart.

 

“​Lust​”​

​Lust​ ​is​ ​wanting​ ​something​

​you​ ​should​ ​not​ ​have.

 

“Galatians​ ​5:16”​

​ ​I​ ​say​ ​then,​

​walk​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Spirit,

​ ​and​ ​you​ ​shall​ ​not​ ​fulfill​

​the​ ​lust​ ​of​ ​the​ ​flesh. 


“Galatians​ ​5:24”

​ ​And​ ​those​ ​who​ ​are​ ​Christ’s

​ ​have​ ​crucified​ ​the​ ​flesh​

​with​ ​its​ ​passions​ ​and desires.

 

“Job​ ​31:1”​

​ ​I​ ​have​ ​made​ ​a​ ​covenant​ ​with​ ​my​ ​eyes.​

​​ ​Why​ ​then​ ​should​ ​I​ ​look​ ​upon​

​a​ ​young woman.

29 If your right eye causes you to sin,

pluck it out and cast it from you; for it

is more profitable for you that one

of your members perish, than for

your whole body to be

cast into hell.

 

30 And if your right hand

causes you to sin, cut it off

and cast it from you; for it is

more profitable for you that one

of your members perish, than for

your whole body to be

cast into hell.

 

“​Pluck​ ​it​ ​out,​ ​cut​ ​it​ ​off​”​

​ ​This​ ​is​ ​spiritual​ ​surgery,

​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​used​ ​to​ ​sin.

 

“Romans​ ​6:12-13”​

​ ​Therefore​ ​do​ ​not​ ​let​ ​sin​

​reign​ ​in​ ​your​ ​mortal​ ​body,​

​that​ ​you​ ​should​ ​obey​ ​it​ ​in its​ ​lusts.

​ ​​ ​And​ ​do​ ​not​ ​present​ ​your​ ​members​

​as​ ​instruments​ ​of​ ​unrighteousness​ ​to​ ​sin,

​ ​but present​ ​yourselves​ ​to​ ​God​ ​as​ ​being​ ​alive​

​from​ ​the​ ​dead,​ ​and​ ​your​ ​members​ ​as

​ ​instruments​ ​of righteousness​ ​to​ ​God.

 

 “Romans​ ​8:12-14”​

​ ​Therefore,​ ​brethren,​ ​we​ ​are​ ​debtors​

​ ​not​ ​to​ ​the​ ​flesh,​ ​to​ ​live​ ​according​ ​to the​ ​flesh.

​ ​​ ​For​ ​if​ ​you​ ​live​ ​according​ ​to​ ​the​ ​flesh​ ​you​ ​will​ ​die,

​ ​but​ ​if​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Spirit​ ​you​ ​put​ ​to​ ​death the​ ​deeds​

​of​ ​the​ ​body​ ​you​ ​will​ ​live.​ ​For​ ​as​ ​many​ ​as​ ​are​

​led​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Spirit​ ​of​ ​God,​ ​these​ ​are​ ​sons of​ ​God.


“​Eye​”​

​The​ ​eye​ ​is​ ​the​ ​main​ ​channel​ ​of​ ​temptation,

​ ​close​ ​them​ ​and​ ​turn​ ​away​ ​from​ ​lust.

 

“Romans​ ​13:14”​

​ ​But​ ​put​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Lord​ ​Jesus​ ​Christ,

and​ ​make​ ​no​ ​provision​ ​for​ ​the​ ​flesh,

​ ​to​ ​fulfill its​ ​lusts.


“​Perish​”​

​ ​To​ ​lose​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of,​ ​for​ ​sin.

 

“Romans​ ​6:22-23”​

​ ​But​ ​now​ ​having​ ​been​ ​set​ ​free​ ​from​ ​sin,

​ ​and​ ​having​ ​become​ ​slaves​ ​of​ ​God,

you​ ​have​ ​your​ ​fruit​ ​to​ ​holiness,

​ ​and​ ​the​ ​end,​ ​everlasting​ ​life.

​ ​​ ​For​ ​the​ ​wages​ ​of​ ​sin​ ​is​ ​death,​

​but the​ ​gift​ ​of​ ​God​ ​is​ ​eternal​

​life​ ​in​ ​Christ​ ​Jesus​ ​our​ ​Lord.

 

“Galatians​ ​2:20”​

​I​ ​have​ ​been​ ​crucified​ ​with​ ​Christ,

​ ​it​ ​is​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​I​ ​who​ ​live,

​ ​but​ ​Christ​ ​lives​ ​in me,​

​and​ ​the​ ​life​ ​which​ ​I​ ​now​

​live​ ​in​ ​the​ ​flesh​ ​I​ ​live​ ​by

​ ​faith​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Son​ ​of​ ​God,​

​who​ ​loved​ ​me​ ​and gave​

​Himself​ ​for​ ​me.


“​Sin​”​

​Is​ ​separation​ ​from​ ​God,

​ ​breaking​ ​God’s​ ​commandments.​

​​ ​God​ ​did​ ​not​ ​give​ ​His commandments​

​to​ ​save​ ​man,​ ​but​ ​to​ ​show​ ​man​ ​the

​ ​way​ ​to​ ​seek​ ​and​ ​receive​ ​His​

​promise​ ​of Salvation,

​ ​Jesus​ ​our​ ​Savior.

 

“John​ ​3:16”​

​ ​For​ ​God​ ​so​ ​loved​ ​the​ ​world

​that​ ​He​ ​gave​ ​His​ ​only​ ​begotten​ ​Son,​

​that​ ​whoever believes​ ​in​ ​Him​ ​should​

​not​ ​perish​ ​but​ ​have​ ​everlasting​ ​life.

 

Marriage is Sacred and Binding 


31 "Furthermore it has been said,

'Whoever divorces his wife, let him

give her a certificate of divorce.


32 But I say to you

that whoever divorces his wife for

any reason except sexual immorality

causes her to commit adultery;

and whoever marries a woman

who is divorced commits adultery.

 

Jesus Forbids Oaths


33 "Again you have

heard that it was said to those of old,

'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform

your oaths to the Lord.' 
 

34 But I say to you, do not swear at all:

neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; 


35 nor by the earth,

for it is His footstool; nor

by Jerusalem, for it is the

city of the great King. 


36 Nor shall you

swear by your head, because

you cannot make one

hair white or black. 


37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,'

and your 'No,' 'No.'

For whatever is more than

these is from the evil one.

 

Jesus​ ​is​ ​saying​ ​that​ ​our

​ ​conversation​ ​should​ ​be​ ​so​ ​honest,

​ ​and​ ​our​ ​character​ ​so​ ​true,​ ​that​ ​we

would​ ​not​ ​need​ ​to​ ​swear​ ​oaths.

 

Go The Second Mile


38 "You have heard that it was said,

'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 


39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

But whoever slaps you on your right cheek,

turn the other to him also. 
 

40 If anyone wants

to sue you and take away

your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 


41 And whoever compels you to

go one mile, go with him two. 


42 Give to him who asks you,

and from him who wants to borrow

from you do not turn away.

 

Love Your Enemies


43 "You have

heard that it was said,

'You shall love your neighbor

and hate your enemy.' 


44 But I say

to you, love your enemies,

bless those who curse you, do good

to those who hate you, and pray

for those who spitefully use

you and persecute you,


45 that you may

be sons of your Father in heaven;

for He makes His sun rise on the evil and

on the good, and sends rain on the just

and on the unjust. 


46 For if you

love those who love you,

what reward have you? Do not even

the tax collectors do the same? 


47 And if you

greet your brethren only,

what do you do more than others?

Do not even the tax collectors do so?

Verses​ ​38​ ​to​ ​47​ ​show​ ​us

​ ​Jesus​ ​teachings​ ​are​ ​completely​ ​opposite,​

​ ​the​ ​way​ ​the​ ​sinful​ ​world lives.

​ ​Do​ ​not​ ​live​ ​like​ ​the​ ​world,

​ ​live​ ​Jesus​ ​teachings.

 

“Romans​ ​12:2”​

​And​ ​do​ ​not​ ​be​ ​conformed​ ​to​ ​this​ ​world,

​ ​but​ ​be​ ​transformed​ ​by​ ​the

​ ​renewing​ ​of your​ ​mind,

​ ​that​ ​you​ ​may​ ​prove​ ​what​ ​is​ ​that​ ​good

​ ​and​ ​acceptable​ ​and​ ​perfect​ ​will​ ​of​ ​God.

 

“John​ ​15:19”​

​ ​​”If​ ​you​ ​were​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world,​

​the​ ​world​ ​would​ ​love​ ​its​ ​own.

​ ​​ ​Yet​ ​because​ ​you​ ​are​ ​not of​ ​the​ ​world,

​ ​but​ ​I​ ​chose​ ​you​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world,​

​therefore​ ​the​ ​world​ ​hates​ ​you.”

 

 “Colossians​ ​3:2”​

​ ​Set​ ​your​ ​mind​ ​on​ ​things​ ​above,

​ ​not​ ​on​ ​things​ ​on​ ​the​ ​earth.

 

48 Therefore you shall be perfect,

just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

“​You​ ​shall​ ​be​ ​perfect​”​

​ ​Perfection​ ​is​ ​through​ ​dying​ ​to​ ​self

​ ​and​ ​becoming​ ​a​ ​vessel​ ​filled

​ ​with​ ​the love​ ​of​ ​Jesus,​

​sharing​ ​God’s​ ​unconditional​

​love​ ​with​ ​everyone.​

​​ ​Perfection​ ​is​ ​being​ ​in​

​the presence​ ​of​ ​God’s​ ​love.

 

 

Matthew Chapter 6​
 

Do Good to Please God


1 "Take heed

that you do not do your

charitable deeds before men,

to be seen by them.

Otherwise you have no

reward from your Father in heaven.

“​Take​ ​heed​”​

​Make​ ​sure​ ​our​ ​hearts

​ ​are​ ​right​ ​with​ ​God.

2 Therefore, when

you do a charitable deed,

do not sound a trumpet before

you as the hypocrites do in the

synagogues and in the streets,

that they may have glory from men.

Assuredly, I say to you, they have

their reward.

“Hypocrite​”​

​Someone​ ​who​ ​pretends​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​Christian,

​ ​talks​ ​the​ ​talk,​ ​but​ ​does​ ​not​ ​walk​ ​the walk.

3 But when you

do a charitable deed,

do not let your left hand know

what your right hand is doing,


4 that your

charitable deed may be

in secret; and your Father

who sees in secret will

Himself reward you openly.


The Model Prayer


5 "And when you pray, you

shall not be like the hypocrites.

For they love to pray standing

in the synagogues and on the

corners of the streets, that

they may be seen by men.

Assuredly, I say to you,

they have their reward.


6 But you,

when you pray,

go into your room, and

when you have shut your door,

pray to your Father who is in

the secret place; and your

Father who sees in secret

will reward you openly.

This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​promise​

​to​ ​answered​ ​prayers

7 And when

you pray, do not use

vain repetitions as the heathen do.

For they think that they will be

heard for their many words.


8 Therefore do not be like them.

For your Father knows the things

you have need of before you ask Him.

This is the prayer

Jesus taught us to pray.​

9 In this

manner, therefore, pray:

our Father in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom

and the power and the

glory forever. Amen.

Thank you Jesus.

14 "For if you forgive men

their trespasses, your heavenly

Father will also forgive you.
 

15 But if you

do not forgive men

their trespasses, neither will

your Father forgive your trespasses.

Forgiveness​ ​is​ ​life,

​ ​unforgiveness​ ​is​ ​death​

Fasting to Be Seen Only by God


16 "Moreover, when you fast,

do not be like the hypocrites,

with a sad countenance.

For they disfigure their faces

that they may appear to men

to be fasting. Assuredly,

I say to you, they have

their reward.


17 But you,

when you fast, anoint

your head and wash your face,


18 so that

you do not appear

to men to be fasting,

but to your Father

who is in the

secret place;

and your Father

who sees in secret

will reward you openly.

Fasting​ ​is​ ​to​ ​be​ ​an​ ​important,​

​secret​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​life​ ​of​

​every​ ​child​ ​of​ ​God.

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven


19 "Do not lay up for

yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy and

where thieves break in and steal;


20 but lay

up for yourselves

treasures in heaven,

where neither moth

nor rust destroys

and where thieves

do not break in and steal.


21 For where your treasure is,

there your heart will be also."

God’s​ ​word​ ​is​ ​treasure​ ​in​ ​our​ ​hearts.​

​​ ​Beloved,​ ​we​ ​must​ ​ask​ ​ourselves,

​ ​where​ ​is​ ​our​ ​treasure. We​ ​must​

​give​ ​up​ ​all​ ​earthly​ ​treasure,​

​what​ ​we​ ​cannot​ ​keep,​ ​to​ ​gain​

​what​ ​we​ ​must​ ​not​ ​lose,

eternal​ ​life​ ​with​ ​Jesus.

“​Treasures​ ​in​ ​Heaven​”​

​Treasures​ ​in​ ​heaven​ ​is​ ​laid​ ​up

​ ​by​ ​sharing​ ​God’s​ ​Love​ ​on​ ​earth.

“Matthew​ ​19:21”​

​ ​Jesus​ ​said​ ​to​ ​him,

​“​If​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​perfect,

​ ​go​ ​sell​ ​what​ ​you​ ​have​

​and​ ​give to​ ​the​ ​poor,

​ ​and​ ​you​ ​will​ ​have​

​treasure​ ​in​ ​heaven;​

​and​ ​come​ ​follow​ ​me.​​”

“James​ ​2:5”​

​ ​Listen,​ ​my​ ​beloved​ ​brethren,

​ ​has​ ​God​ ​not​ ​chosen​ ​the​ ​poor​ ​of

​ ​this​ ​world​ ​to​ ​be​ ​rich in​ ​faith​

​and​ ​heirs​ ​of​ ​the​ ​kingdom

​ ​which​ ​He​ ​promised​ ​to

​ ​those​ ​who​ ​love​ ​Him?

The Lamp of the Body


22 "The lamp

of the body is the eye.

If therefore your eye is good,

your whole body will be full of light.


23 But if

your eye is bad,

your whole body will be

full of darkness. If therefore the

light that is in you is darkness,

how great is that darkness!


“If your eye is bad”

“Matthew 5:29”

If your right eye causes you to sin,

pluck it out and cast it from you;

for it is more profitable for you

that one of your members

perish, than for your

whole body to be

cast into hell.

“John​ ​8:12”​

​ ​Then​ ​Jesus​ ​spoke​

​to​ ​them​ ​again,​ ​saying,

​ ​“​I​ ​am​ ​the​ ​light​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world.​ ​

​ ​He​ ​who follows​ ​me​ ​shall​ ​not​ ​walk​

​in​ ​darkness,​ ​but​ ​have​ ​the​ ​light​ ​of​ ​life.​”
 

“1​ ​John​ ​1:5-7”​

​This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​message​

​which​ ​we​ ​have​ ​heard​ ​from​ ​Him

​ ​and​ ​declare​ ​to​ ​you,​ ​that God​ ​is​ ​light

​ ​and​ ​in​ ​Him​ ​is​ ​no​ ​darkness​ ​at​ ​all.​

​​ ​If​ ​we​ ​say​ ​that​ ​we​ ​have​ ​fellowship​

​with​ ​Him​ ​and walk​ ​in​ ​darkness,​

​we​ ​lie​ ​and​ ​do​ ​not​ ​practice​ ​the​ ​truth.​

​​ ​But​ ​if​ ​we​ ​walk​ ​in​ ​the​ ​light​ ​as​ ​He​ ​is​ ​in​

​the light,​ ​we​ ​have​ ​fellowship​ ​with​ ​one

​ ​another,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​blood​ ​of​ ​Jesus​ ​Christ​

​His​ ​Son​ ​cleanses​ ​us from​ ​all​ ​sin.


You Cannot Serve God and Riches


24 "No one

can serve two masters;

for either he will hate the one

and love the other, or else

he will be loyal to the one

and despise the other.

You cannot serve God

and mammon."

God​ ​must​ ​be​ ​first;

​ ​you​ ​cannot​ ​serve​ ​money.

​ ​​ ​​“Luke​ ​16:13-15”​

​“​No​ ​servant​ ​can​ ​serve​ ​two​ ​masters,​

​for​ ​either​ ​he​ ​will​ ​hate​ ​the​ ​one​ ​and​ ​love

the​ ​other, or​ ​else​ ​he​ ​will​ ​be​ ​loyal​ ​to​ ​the​ ​one

​ ​and​ ​despise​ ​the​ ​other.​ ​​ ​You​ ​cannot​ ​serve

​ ​God​ ​and mammon.​”​ ​​ ​Now​ ​the​ ​pharisees,

​ ​who​ ​were​ ​lovers​ ​of​ ​money,​ ​also​ ​heard​

​all​ ​these​ ​things,​ ​and​ ​they derided​ ​Him.

​ ​​ ​And​ ​He​ ​said​ ​to​ ​them,​ ​“​You​ ​are​ ​those​

​who​ ​justify​ ​yourselves​ ​before​ ​men,​

​but​ ​God knows​ ​your​ ​hearts.​ ​​ ​For

​ ​what​ ​is​ ​highly​ ​esteemed​ ​among​

​men​ ​is​ ​an​ ​abomination​ ​in​ ​the

​ ​sight​ ​of God.​”

1 Timothy​ ​6:10”​

​ ​For​ ​the​ ​love​ ​of​ ​money​

​is​ ​a​ ​root​ ​of​ ​all​ ​kinds​ ​of​ ​evil,

​ ​for​ ​which​ ​some​ ​have​ ​strayed

from​ ​the​ ​faith​ ​in​ ​their​ ​greediness,

​ ​and​ ​pierced​ ​themselves​ ​through

​ ​with​ ​many​ ​sorrows.

Do Not Worry


25 "Therefore I say to you,

do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or what you will

drink; nor about your body, what you

will put on. Is not life more than food

and the body more than clothing?


26 Look at the birds of the air,

for they neither sow nor reap

nor gather into barns; yet

your heavenly Father

feeds them. Are

you not of more

value than they?


27 Which of you by worrying

can add one cubit to his stature?


28 So why do

you worry about clothing?

Consider the lilies of the field, how

they grow: they neither toil nor spin;


29 and

yet I say to you

that even Solomon in

all his glory was not

arrayed like one of these.


30 Now if God so clothes the

grass of the field, which today is,

and tomorrow is thrown into

the oven, will He not much

more clothe you, O you

of little faith?


31 Therefore do not worry,

saying, 'What shall we eat?'

or 'What shall we drink?'

or 'What shall we wear?'


32 For after

all these things

the Gentiles seek. For

your heavenly Father

knows that you need

all these things.

This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​road​ ​map​ ​to​ ​life,​

​trusting​ ​Jesus,​ ​one​ ​step,

​ ​one​ ​day​ ​at​ ​a​ ​time​.

33 But seek

first the kingdom of God

and His righteousness, and all

these things shall be added to you.

Seek​ ​Jesus​ ​with​ ​all​ ​your​ ​heart,​

​let​ ​the​ ​word​ ​of​ ​God​ ​fill​ ​your​ ​mind​

​and​ ​heart​ ​with​ ​Jesus​ ​teachings and

​ ​His​ ​righteousness.​ ​​ ​In​ ​Jesus​ ​presence​

​there​ ​is​ ​life;​ ​when​ ​we​ ​read​ ​God’s​ ​word​ ​we​

​are​ ​in​ ​the presence​ ​of​ ​Jesus.​​​ ​Listen​ ​carefully​

​as​ ​Jesus​ ​speaks,​ ​to​ ​our​ ​mind​ ​and​ ​heart.

“Matthew​ ​6:9-10”​

​​In​ ​this​ ​manner,​ ​therefore,​ ​pray.

​ ​​ ​”Our​ ​Father​ ​in​ ​heaven​

​Hallowed​ ​be​ ​your name.

​ ​​ ​Your​ ​Kingdom​ ​come​

​Your​ ​will​ ​be​ ​done​

​on​ ​earth​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​in​ ​heaven.” ​

“Luke 17:20-21”

Now when He was asked

by the pharisees when the

kingdom of God would come,

He answered them and said,

“The kingdom of God does

not come with observation,

nor will they say, see hear,

or see there, for indeed,

the Kingdom of God is

within you.”

“2 Corinthians 5:21”

 For He made Him who knew no sin

to be sin for us, that we might

become the righteousness

of God in Him


34 Therefore

do not worry

about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will

worry about its own things.

Sufficient for the day is

its own trouble."

There​ ​is​ ​no​ ​fear​ ​of​ ​tomorrow, ​​if​ ​we​ ​live​

​in​ ​Jesus​ ​love​ ​and​ ​peace,​ ​today​.
 

Matthew Chapter 7

Do Not Judge


1 "Judge not,

that you be not judged.


2 For with

what judgment you judge,

you will be judged; and with

the measure you use, it will

be measured back to you.

Judgment is made by

the word of God,

not by man.

 

“John 7:24”

Do not judge according to appearance,

but judge with righteous judgement.

3 And why

do you look at the speck

in your brother's eye, but do not

consider the plank in your own eye?
 

4 Or how can

you say to your brother,

'Let me remove the speck from your eye;

 and look, a plank is in your own eye?


5 Hypocrite!

First remove the plank

from your own eye, and then you

will see clearly to remove the

speck from your brother's eye.

Do not seek the sin in someone else’s

life and ignore the sin in your own life.

 We remove the plank in our eye

by loving others with

God’s unconditional love.

6 Do not give

what is holy to the dogs;

nor cast your pearls before swine,

lest they trample them under their feet,

and turn and tear you in pieces.

Dogs and swine are evil people,

who refuse Jesus as their Saviour.

Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking


7 Ask, and it

will be given to you;

seek, and you will find;

knock, and it will be

opened to you.
 

8 For everyone

who asks receives,

and he who seeks finds,

and to him who knocks

it will be opened.


9 Or what

man is there among you

who, if his son asks for bread,

will give him a stone?

 

10 Or if he asks for a fish,

will he give him a serpent?


11 If you then, being evil, know how

to give good gifts to your children,

how much more will your Father

who is in heaven give good

things to those who ask Him!

These verses are promises

of answered prayer.

12 Therefore,

whatever you want

men to do to you,

do also to them,

for this is the Law

and the Prophets.

We are to be kind

and loving to others;

this is the Christian’s walk.

 As Jesus takes our hand,

we follow our Savior Jesus.

The Narrow Way


13 Enter by the narrow gate;

for wide is the gate and broad

is the way that leads to destruction,

and there are many who go in by it.
 

14 Because

narrow is the gate

and difficult is the way

which leads to life,

and there are few

who find it.

The narrow gate is the way of Jesus;

the narrow gate is difficult because

we die to self, so Jesus comes

and lives through us.

The wide gate

is the way

of the sinful world.
 

“Luke 13:23-24”

Then one said to Him,

“Lord are there few who are saved?”

 And He said to them,

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate,

for many, I say to you, will seek to enter

and will not be able.”

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits


15 Beware of false prophets, who

come to you in sheep's clothing, but

inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
 

16 You will know

them by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes from

thorn bushes or figs from thistles?
 

17 Even so,

every good tree bears

good fruit, but a bad tree

bears bad fruit.
 

18 A good tree

cannot bear bad fruit, nor

can a bad tree bear good fruit.
 

19 Every tree that does not bear

good fruit is cut down and thrown

into the fire.
 

20 Therefore

by their fruits you

will know them.

When Jesus lives in us,

and we live in Him,

we bear good fruit,

and Jesus love

flows through us.

 

“John 15:4-5”

 "Abide in me, and I in you.

 As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

unless it abides in the vine, neither can you,

unless you abide in me.  I am the vine, you

are the branches. He who abides in me,

and I in him, bears much fruit; for

without Me you can do nothing."

 

 “Galatians 5:22-23”

But the fruit of the Spirit is love,

joy, peace, long-suffering,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control.

 Against such there is no law.

I Never Knew You


21 Not everyone

who says to Me,

'Lord, Lord,' shall enter

the kingdom of heaven,

but he who does the will

of My Father in heaven.

The will of the father

is to believe Jesus

is our Savior and

live His teachings.
 

“Luke 6:46”

But why do you call Me Lord, Lord,

and not do the things which I say?  
 

“1 John 2:17”

And the world is passing away,

and the lust of it, but he who

does the will of God

abides forever.

 

 “Revelation 22:14”

Blessed are those who

do His commandments,

that they may have the

right to the tree of life,

and may enter through

the gates into the city.

22 Many will say to Me in that day,

'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied

in Your name, cast out demons

in Your name, and done many

wonders in Your name?'

“Have we not”

We are not to glorify ourselves,

all glory belongs to the Lord.

23 And then I will declare to them,

'I never knew you; depart from Me,

you who practice lawlessness!'

“Lawlessness”

They were not obedient

to Jesus teachings.

Build on the Rock


24 Therefore whoever

hears these sayings of

Mine, and does them, I will

liken him to a wise man who

built his house on the rock:
 

25 and the rain descended,

the floods came, and the winds

blew and beat on that house;

and it did not fall, for it was

founded on the rock.

Jesus is the Rock,

the Living Word. The firm

foundation for every believer.

26 But everyone who

hears these sayings of Mine,

and does not do them, will

be like a foolish man who

built his house on the sand:
 

27 and the

rain descended, the

floods came, and the

winds blew and beat on

that house; and it fell.

And great was its fall."

This is the reality of the unbeliever.

28 And so it was, when Jesus

had ended these sayings,

that the people were

astonished at His teaching,


29 for He taught them

as one having authority,

and not as the scribes.

Perfect instruction,

from the perfect God.
 

 

Matthew Chapter 8

Jesus Cleanses a Leper


1 When He

had come down from

the mountain, great multitudes

followed Him.
 

2 And behold,

a leper came and

worshiped Him, saying,

"Lord, if You are willing,

You can make me clean."

“Worshiped”

To bow down, kneel

in reverence and honor.

 We worship Jesus in

sickness and health.

3 Then Jesus

put out His hand

and touched him, saying,

"I am willing; be cleansed."

Immediately his leprosy

was cleansed.


4 And Jesus said to him,

"See that you tell no one;

but go your way, show

yourself to the priest,

and offer the gift that

Moses commanded,

as a testimony to them."

Jesus asked

those that were healed

not to tell others, to fulfill the

prophecy of Isaiah 42:1-4.

 

 “Matthew 12:15-21”

But when Jesus knew it,

He withdrew from there.  And

great multitudes followed Him, and

He healed them all. Yet He warned

them not to make Him known, that it

might be fulfilled which was spoken by

Isaiah the prophet, saying; “Behold;

My Servant whom I have chosen, My

Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased.

 I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He

will declare justice to the Gentiles.

He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will

anyone hear His voice in the streets.

A bruised reed He will not break,

and smoking flax He will not quench,

till He sends forth justice to victory,

and in His name Gentiles will trust.”

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant


5 Now when Jesus had entered

Capernaum, a centurion came

to Him, pleading with Him,
 

6 saying, "Lord, my servant

is lying at home paralyzed,

dreadfully tormented."
 

7 And Jesus said to him,

"I will come and heal him."
 

8 The centurion answered

and said, "Lord, I am not worthy

that You should come under my roof.

But only speak a word, and my

servant will be healed.

“Worthy”

Our only worthiness

 is Jesus presents in us.

 

9 For I also am a

man under authority,

having soldiers under me.

And I say to this one,

'Go,' and he goes;

and to another,

'Come,' and he comes;

and to my servant, 'Do this,'

and he does it."

10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled,

and said to those who followed,

"Assuredly, I say to you,

I have not found such great faith,

not even in Israel!
 

11 And I say to you

that many will come from east and west,

and sit down with Abraham, Isaac,

and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
 

12 But the sons of the kingdom

will be cast out into outer darkness.

There will be weeping

and gnashing of teeth."

“sons of the kingdom”

 The unbelieving Jews who

 rejected Jesus as the Saviour.
 

“outer darkness”

 Eternal suffering,

 the fate of all unbelievers

 who reject Jesus as their Saviour.

  “Luke 13:28”

 There will be weeping

and gnashing of teeth, when

you see Abraham and Isaac

 and Jacob and all the prophets

in thekingdom of God, and

yourselves thrust out.

13 Then Jesus said to the centurion,

"Go your way; and as you have believed,

so let it be done for you."

And his servant was healed

that same hour.

Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed
14 Now when Jesus had

come into Peter's house,

He saw his wife's mother

lying sick with a fever.
 

15 So He touched her hand,

and the fever left her. And

she arose and served them.

Many Healed in the Evening

 

16 When evening had come,

they brought to Him many who

were demon-possessed. And

He cast out the spirits with a word,

and healed all who were sick,
 

17 that it might be fulfilled which

was spoken by Isaiah the prophet,

saying: "He Himself took our

infirmities and bore our sicknesses."

Healing comes through our faith,

 through His touch,

 through His deliverance,

 through the spoken word,

 through God’s plan in action.

  “Isaiah 53:4-5”

 Surely He has borne our griefs

 and carried our sorrows;

 Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

 smitten by God, and afflicted But

He was wounded for our transgressions,

 He was bruised for our iniquities; the

chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

 and by His stripes we are healed.

The Cost of Discipleship
18 And when Jesus
saw

great multitudes about Him,

He gave a command to

depart to the other side.
 

19 Then a certain scribe

came and said to Him,

"Teacher, I will follow

You wherever You go."
 

20 And Jesus said to him,

"Foxes have holes and birds

of the air have nests,

but the Son of Man has

nowhere to lay His head."
 

21 Then another of His

disciples said to Him,

"Lord, let me first go

and bury my father."
 

22 But Jesus said to him,

"Follow Me,

and let the dead

bury their own dead."

There is no excuse

not to follow Jesus.

  “Verses 21-22 Amplified Version”

 Another of the disciples said to Him,

 “Lord, let me first go and bury

 (care for until death) my father.

  But Jesus said to him,

 “Follow me, and leave the dead

 (in sin) to bury their own dead.”

Wind and Wave Obey Jesus
23 Now when He got into a boat,

His disciples followed Him.
 

24 And suddenly

a great tempest arose on the sea,

so that the boat was covered

with the waves.

But He was asleep.
 

25 Then His disciples came to Him

and awoke Him, saying,

"Lord, save us! We are perishing!"
 

26 But He said to them,

"Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"

Then He arose and rebuked the winds

and the sea, and there was a great calm.
 

27 So the men marveled, saying,

"Who can this be, that even the winds

and the sea obey Him?"

This storm was not created by God;

 Jesus spoke and the weather calmed.

Two Demon-Possessed Men Healed
28 When He had come to the other side,

to the country of the Gergesenes,

there met Him two demon-possessed men,

coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce,

so that no one could pass that way.


29 And suddenly they cried out, saying,

"What have we to do with You, Jesus,

You Son of God? Have You come here

to torment us before the time?"

The demons knew Jesus

was the Son of God,

 and that Jesus would

destroy them, in His time.

30 Now a good way off from them

there was a herd of many swine feeding.
 

31 So the demons begged Him,

saying, "If You cast us out, permit us

to go away into the herd of swine."
 

32 And He said to them,

"Go."

So when they had come out,

they went into the herd of swine.

And suddenly the whole herd of swine

ran violently down the

steep place into the sea,

and perished in the water.
 

33 Then those who kept them fled;

and they went away into the city

and told everything, including what had

happened to the demon-possessed men.
 

34 And behold,

the whole city came out to meet Jesus.

And when they saw Him, they begged

Him to depart from their region.

This city, like the world,

 rejected Jesus.

 

Matthew Chapter 9

 

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic

1 So He got into a boat,

crossed over, and came

to His own city.

 

“own city”

Capernaum

 

2 Then behold,

they brought to Him

a paralytic lying on a bed.

When Jesus saw their faith,

He said to the paralytic,

“Son, be of good cheer;

your sins are forgiven you.”
 

3 And at once

some of the scribes

said within themselves,

“This Man blasphemes!”
 

4 But Jesus, knowing

their thoughts, said,

“Why do you think

evil in your hearts?

 

5 For which

is easier, to say,

‘Your sins are forgiven you,’

or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?

 

6 But that you may know

that the Son of Man has power

on earth to forgive sins”

then He said to the paralytic,

“Arise, take up your bed,

and go to your house.”

 

7 And he arose and

departed to his house.
 

8 Now when the multitudes saw it,

they marveled and glorified God,

who had given such power to men.

Matthew the Tax Collector

9 As Jesus passed on from there,

He saw a man named Matthew

sitting at the tax office.

And He said to him,

“Follow Me.”

So he arose

and followed Him.

 

“Follow me”

Each of us are

called to follow Jesus.

 Blessed are those who

answer Jesus call.


10 Now it happened,

as Jesus sat at the table

in the house, that behold,

many tax collectors and

sinners came and sat down

with Him and His disciples.

 

11 And when the Pharisees

saw it, they said to His disciples,

“Why does your Teacher eat with

tax collectors and sinners?”

 

12 When

Jesus heard that,

He said to them,

“Those who are well

have no need of a physician,

but those who are sick.

 

13 But go and

learn what this means:

‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’

For I did not come to call the

righteous, but sinners,

to repentance.”

 

Jesus is our Savior,

Jesus came to save those

who cannot save themselves.

 

 “righteous”

live in the presence of God.

 

 “sick, sinners”

have removed themselves

from the presence of God.

 

 “Repentance”

turn from sin, return to God.

 

It is helpful to read

other versions of the bible,

to understand difficult verses. Verse 13

is made clear in the Amplified Version,

Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy

(that is, readiness to help those in trouble)

and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims.

 For I came not to call and invite

(to repentance) the righteous

those who are upright and

in right standing with God

but the sinners - the

erring ones and all

those not free from sin.”

 

Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting

14 Then the disciples of

John came to Him, saying,

“Why do we and the Pharisees fast

often, but Your disciples

do not fast?”

 

15 And Jesus said to them,

“Can the friends of the bridegroom

mourn as long as the bridegroom

is with them? But the days will come

when the bridegroom will be taken

away from them, and then

they will fast.

 

Fasting draws us into the

presence of Jesus.

 

16 No one puts a piece of

unshrunk cloth on an old garment;

for the patch pulls away from

the garment, and the tear

is made worse.

 

17 Nor do

they put new wine

into old wine skins, or else

the wine skins break,

the wine is spilled,

and the wine skins

are ruined. But they

put new wine into new

wine skins, and both are

preserved.”

 

“New wine”

The good news of Jesus.

 

  “New wine skins” 

Daily, we die to self,

we are made new every day.

 So that Jesus can fill us up

with His spiritual blessings.

 

  “2 Corinthians 5:17”

Therefore if anyone is in Christ

he is a new creation;

old things have passed away;

behold, all things have

become new.

 

  “Galatians 2:20”

I have been crucified with Christ;

it is no longer I who live,

but Christ lives in me;

and the life which I now live

in the flesh I live by faith

in the Son of God,

who loved me and

gave Himself for me.

A Girl Restored to Life

and a Woman Healed

18 While He spoke these things

to them, behold, a ruler came

and worshiped Him, saying,

“My daughter has just died,

but come and lay Your hand

on her and she will live.”

 

19 So Jesus

arose and followed him,

and so did His disciples.

 

20 And suddenly,

a woman who had a

flow of blood for twelve years

came from behind and touched

the hem of His garment.

 

21 For she said to herself,

“If only I may touch His garment,

I shall be made well.”

22 But Jesus turned around,

and when He saw her He said,

“Be of good cheer, daughter;

your faith has made you well.”

And the woman was made

well from that hour.

 

23 When

Jesus came into the

ruler’s house, and saw the

flute players and the noisy

crowd wailing,

 

24 He said to them,

“Make room, for the girl

is not dead, but sleeping.”

And they ridiculed Him.

 

25 But when the crowd

was put outside, He went in

and took her by the hand,

and the girl arose.

 

26 And the report of this

went out into all that land.

 

Faith in action, the father believed

and the daughter was healed.

 

Two Blind Men Healed

 

27 When Jesus

departed from there,

two blind men followed

Him, crying out and saying,

“Son of David, have

mercy on us!”

 

28 And

when He had

come into the house,

the blind men came to Him.

And Jesus said to them,

“Do you believe that

I am able to do this?”

They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”


29 Then

He touched

their eyes, saying,

“According to your faith

let it be to you.”

30 And their

eyes were opened.

And Jesus sternly warned

them, saying,

“See that no one knows it.”


31 But when they had departed,

they spread the news about Him

in all that country.

 

A Mute Man Speaks

 

32 As they went out, behold,

they brought to Him a man,

mute and demon-possessed.

 

33 And when the demon

was cast out, the mute spoke.

And the multitudes marveled, saying,

“It was never seen like this in Israel!”

 

34 But the Pharisees said,

“He casts out demons by

the ruler of the demons.”

 

The Pharisees

blasphemed the Holy Spirit,

the unpardonable sin.

  “Mark 3:22-30”

And the scribes who came

down from Jerusalem said,

He has beelzebub, and

by the ruler of the demons

he casts out demons.  So He

called them to Himself and

said to them in parables,

“How can satan cast out satan?

If a kingdom is divided against

itself that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house is divided

against itself, that house

cannot stand. And if satan

has risen up against himself,

and is divided, he cannot stand,

but has an end. No one can

enter a strong man’s house

and plunder his goods,

unless he first binds the

strong man.  And then he

will plunder his house.

Assuredly, I say to you,

all sins will be forgiven

the sons of men and

whatever blasphemies

they may utter, but

he who blasphemies

against the Holy Spirit

never has forgiveness,

but is subject to

eternal condemnation.”

 Because they said,

He has an unclean spirit.

The Compassion of Jesus

35 Then Jesus went about

all the cities and villages,

teaching in their synagogues,

preaching the gospel of the

kingdom, and healing every

sickness and every disease

among the people.

“Gospel of the kingdom”

The Good News of Salvation

in Jesus, the presents of

Jesus on earth, Jesus

teachings, the living word.

 “John 3:16”

“For God so loved the world

that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him should

not perish but have everlasting life.”

36 But when He saw the multitudes,

He was moved with compassion

for them, because they were

weary and scattered, like

sheep having no shepherd.

37 Then He

said to His disciples,

“The harvest truly is plentiful,

but the laborers are few.

38 Therefore pray the Lord

of the harvest to send out

laborers into His harvest.”

Lord here am I - send me.

  “Laborers”

Witnessing disciples.

  “Matthew 28:19-20”

Go therefore and make disciples

of all the nations, baptizing them

in the name of the Father and of

the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all

things that I have commanded

you, and lo, I am with you always,

even to the end of the age.  Amen.

 

Matthew Chapter 10

 

The Twelve Apostles

1 And when He had called His

twelve disciples to Him, He gave

them power over unclean spirits,

to cast them out, and to heal all

kinds of sickness and

all kinds of disease.

 

All healing is a gift

from Jesus our Savior.

 

2 Now the names of the

twelve apostles are these: first,

Simon, who is called Peter,

and Andrew his brother;

James the son of Zebedee,

and John his brother;

 

3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas

and Matthew the tax collector;

James the son of Alphaeus,

and Lebbaeus, whose

surname was Thaddaeus;

 

“Surname”

family name.

 

4 Simon

the Canaanite,

and Judas Iscariot,

who also betrayed Him.

Sending Out the Twelve

5 These twelve Jesus sent out

and commanded them, saying:

“Do not go into the way of the Gentiles,

and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.

 

6 But go

rather to the lost sheep

of the house of Israel.

 

7 And as you

go, preach, saying,

‘The kingdom of heaven

is at hand.’

 

“The kingdom of heaven is at hand”

Jesus is saying,

I am now present with you,

showing you the way to eternal life.

 

8 Heal the

sick, cleanse the lepers,

raise the dead, cast out demons.

Freely you have received, freely give.

 

9 Provide neither gold nor silver

nor copper in your money belts,

 

10 nor bag for your journey,

nor two tunics, nor sandals,

nor staffs; for a worker is

worthy of his food.

 

11 “Now

whatever city

or town you enter,

inquire who in it is worthy,

and stay there till you go out.

 

12 And

when you go into a

household, greet it.

 

13 If the household is worthy,

let your peace come upon it.

But if it is not worthy, let

your peace return to you.

 

“Worthy”

The worthiness of a household was

welcoming the disciples into their home,

and listening to what they said.  When

Jesus knocks on the door of our hearts,

let us welcome Him in, and

believe what He says.

 

Worthiness is God’s presence in us,

and God’s peace in our home.

 

14 And

whoever will not receive

you nor hear your words,

when you depart from

that house or city,

shake off the dust

from your feet.

 

15 Assuredly, I say to you,

it will be more tolerable for

the land of Sodom and

Gomorrah in the day of

judgment than for that city!

Persecutions Are Coming

16 “Behold, I send you out as

sheep in the midst of wolves.

Therefore be wise as serpents

and harmless as doves.

 

“Sheep” - Believers.

  “Wolves” - Unbelievers.

  “Serpents” - careful.

  “Doves” - Innocent.

 

17 But

beware of men,

for they will deliver

you up to councils

and scourge you in

their synagogues.

 

18 You will be brought before

governors and kings for My sake,

as a testimony to them and to

the Gentiles.

 

19 But when

they deliver you up,

do not worry about how or

what you should speak.

For it will be given to you

in that hour what you

should speak;

 

20 for it

is not you who speak,

but the Spirit of your Father

who speaks in you.

 

God will fill our mouth

with His words.

 

 “Luke 21:15”

For I will give you a mouth

and wisdom which all your adversaries,

will not be able to contradict or resist.

 

21 “Now

brother will deliver

up brother to death,

and a father his child;

and children will rise up

against parents and cause

them to be put to death.

 

This will take

place during the tribulation,

before the second coming of Jesus.

 

22 And you will be hated

by all for My name’s sake.

But he who endures to

the end will be saved.

 

“Hated”

“John 15:18-19”

“If the world hates you,

you know that it hated

Me before it hated you.

 If you were of the world,

the world would love its own.

 Yet because you are not of the world,

but I chose you out of the world,

therefore the world hates you.”

  

“Endures”

To continue, do not give up,

remain obedient to Jesus teachings.

 Believers are to boldly witness

Jesus Salvation Message

with everyone, until

Jesus returns.

  

“2 Timothy 2:12”

If we endure, we

shall also reign with Him;

if we deny Him, He will

also deny us.

23 When

they persecute you

in this city, flee to another.

For assuredly, I say to you,

you will not have gone through

the cities of Israel before the

Son of Man comes.

24 “A disciple

is not above his teacher,

nor a servant above his master.

25 It is

enough for a disciple

that he be like his teacher,

and a servant like his master.

If they have called the master of

the house beelzebub, how much

more will they call those of

his household!

A disciple follows Jesus; as they

called Jesus our master vile names,

we will be called vile names.

26 Therefore

do not fear them. For

there is nothing covered

that will not be revealed,

and hidden that will not

be known.

Jesus Teaches the Fear of God

27 “Whatever

I tell you in the dark,

speak in the light; and what you

hear in the ear, preach on

the housetops.

Jesus words are blessed assurance to us.

 Our ministry is to proclaim Jesus as Savior.

28 And do not fear those

who kill the body but cannot

kill the soul. But rather

fear Him who is able

to destroy both soul

and body in hell.

Fear God,

and live with

God forever.

  “Luke 1:50”

And His mercy

is on those who fear Him

from generation to generation.

  “Proverbs 1:7’

The fear of the Lord

is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom

and instruction.

29 Are not

two sparrows

sold for a copper coin?

And not one of them falls

to the ground apart from

your Father’s will.

30 But the

very hairs of your

head are all numbered.

31 Do not fear therefore; you are

of more value than many sparrows.

Confess Christ Before Men

32 “Therefore whoever confesses

Me before men, him I will also

confess before My Father who

is in heaven.

“Matthew 28:18-20”

And Jesus came and

spoke to them, saying,

“All authority has been given

to Me in heaven and on earth.

 Go therefore and make

disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the

name of the Father

and of the Son and

of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to

observe all things

I have commanded

you; and, lo, I am with

you always, even to the

end of the age.”  Amen.

33 But whoever denies Me

before men, him I will also

deny before My Father who

is in heaven.

As we confess Jesus as our Savior to others,

the door is open to our Salvation. Jesus love

and Salvation are the most glorious

words we can share with others.

  “Luke 12:8-9”

“Also I say to you,

whoever confesses Me before

men, him the Son of Man also will

confess before the angels of God.

 But he who denies Me before men

will be denied before the

angels of God.”

Christ Brings Division

34 “Do not think that I came

to bring peace on earth. I did

not come to bring peace

but a sword.

“Sword”

The word of God

Peace brings togetherness.

 The sword, the living word,

divides those who follow Jesus,

from those who reject Him.

35 For I have

come to set a man

against his father, a daughter

against her mother,

and a daughter-in-law

against her mother-in-law;

36 and a

man’s enemies will be

those of his own household.

37 He who loves father or mother

more than Me is not worthy of Me.

And he who loves son or daughter

more than Me is not worthy of Me.

Christian commitment may separate

family and friends. His presence

demands a decision. God must

be number one in our life.

38 And he who does not take his cross

and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

39 He who

finds his life will lose it,

and he who loses his life for

My sake will find it.
 

Verses 38 and 39,

are precious, powerful, and promising.

 Jesus is teaching us the way to eternal life.

 Eternal life can begin right now!

 When we die to our sinful self,

lose our life, and find new life,

living obedient to Jesus teachings.

 Carefully study Jesus teachings,

Jesus will teach us how to live.

 Thank you Jesus!

  “John 8:31-32”

 Then Jesus said to those

Jews who believed Him,

“If you abide in My word

you are My disciples indeed.

 And you will know the truth,

and the truth shall

make you free.”

 “Mark 8:34-37”

When He had called

the people to Himself,

with His disciples also,

He said to them,

“Whoever desires to come after Me,

let him deny himself, and

take up his cross,

and follow Me.

 For whoever

desires to save

his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life

for My sake and the gospels

will save it. For what will it profit

a man if he gains the whole world

and loses his own soul. Or what will a

man give in exchange for his soul.”

 

“Luke 9:23-25”

Then He said to them all,

“If anyone desires to come after Me,

let Him deny himself, and take up his

cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever

desires to save his life will lose it, but

whoever loses his life for My sake

will save it. For what profit is it to

a man if he gains the whole

world, and is himself

destroyed or lost?

“John 12:25”

He who loves his life will lose it,

and he who hates his life in this world

will keep it for eternal life.

A Cup of Cold Water


40 “He who

receives you receives Me,

and he who receives Me receives

Him who sent Me.

41 He who

receives a prophet

in the name of a prophet

shall receive a prophet’s reward.

And he who receives a righteous man

in the name of a righteous man

shall receive a righteous

man’s reward.

42 And whoever gives one of these

little ones only a cup of cold water

in the name of a disciple,

assuredly, I say to you,

he shall by no means

lose his reward.”

 

Matthew Chapter 11

 

John the Baptist

Sends Messengers to Jesus

1 Now it

came to pass, when

Jesus finished commanding

His twelve disciples, that He

departed from there to teach

and to preach in their cities.

 

As Jesus commanded His disciples then,

 Jesus commands us as His disciples now.

 

2 And when

John had heard in prison

about the works of Christ, he

sent two of his disciples

 

3 and said to Him,

“Are You the Coming One,

or do we look for another?”

 

4 Jesus

answered and said to them,

“Go and tell John the things which

you hear and see:

 

5 The blind see and the lame walk; the

lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear;

the dead are raised up and the poor

have the gospel preached to them.

 

6 And blessed

is he who is not offended

because of Me.”

 

Those who are offended by Jesus,

 do not accept Jesus salvation by faith.

 

7 As they departed, Jesus began

to say to the multitudes concerning John:

“What did you go out into the wilderness

to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

 

8 But what

did you go out to see?

A man clothed in soft garments?

Indeed, those who wear soft clothing

are in kings’ houses.

 

9 But what

did you go out to see?

A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and

more than a prophet.

 

10 For this is he of whom it is written:

‘Behold, I send My messenger before

Your face, who will prepare

Your way before You.’

 

11 “Assuredly, I say to you,

among those born of women

there has not risen one greater

than John the Baptist; but he who

is least in the kingdom of heaven

is greater than he.

 

12 And from

the days of John the Baptist

until now the kingdom of heaven

suffers violence, and the violent

take it by force.

 

John the Baptist,  proclaimed

the presence of God on earth;

 man violently sought to

destroy him.

  

“Take it by force”

 Violently attack it,

  unbelievers persecute

 and oppose God’s kingdom.

  Christians are God’s kingdom on earth,

 Christians suffer persecution

from the world.

 

13 For all the prophets and

the law prophesied until John.

 

14 And if you

are willing to receive it,

he is Elijah who is to come.

 

15 He who

has ears to hear,

let him hear!

 

16 “But to what

shall I liken this generation? It is

like children sitting in the marketplaces

and calling to their companions,

 

17 and saying:

‘We played the flute for you,

and you did not dance;

we mourned to you,

and you did not lament.’

 

God’s children in action,

 are calling to a lost world.

 

18 For John came neither eating nor

drinking, and they say, ‘he has a demon.’

 

19 The Son

of Man came eating

and drinking, and they say,

‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber,

, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

But wisdom is justified by her children.”

 

The world cannot be pleased,

 wisdom is God’s gift to His children.

  Jesus is our wisdom.

 

“1 Corinthians 1:30”

 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus,

 who became for us wisdom from God, and

 righteousness and sanctification

and redemption.


Woe to the Impenitent Cities

20 Then He

began to rebuke the cities

in which most of His mighty works

had been done, because they

did not repent:

 

21 “Woe

to you, Chorazin!

Woe to you, Bethsaida!

For if the mighty works

which were done in you had

been done in Tyre and Sidon,

they would have repented

long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 But I say to you, it will be

more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon

in the day of judgment than for you.

 

23 And you, Capernaum,

who are exalted to heaven,

will be brought down to Hades;

for if the mighty works which were

done in you had been done in Sodom,

it would have remained until this day.

 

24 But I say to you that

it shall be more tolerable

for the land of Sodom

in the day of judgment

than for you.”
 

As the world was,

 so it continues to be today.

  Have mercy on us, Lord.


Jesus Gives True Rest

25 At that time Jesus

answered and said,

“I thank You, Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

that You have hidden these things

from the wise and prudent and

have revealed them to babes.

 

“Babes”

 “Matthew 18:2-3”

  Then Jesus called a little child to Him,

 set him in the midst of them, and said,

 “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are

 converted and become as little children,

 you will by no means enter the

 kingdom of heaven.”

 

26 Even so, Father, for so it

seemed good in Your sight.

 

27 All things have been

delivered to Me by My Father,

and no one knows the Son

except the Father.

Nor does anyone

know the Father

except the Son,

and the one to whom

the Son wills to reveal Him.

 

Let us believe

 and  receive Jesus

 as our Savior and Lord.

  Amen, so be it.

 

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and

are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 

29 Take

My yoke upon you

and learn from Me, for

I am gentle and lowly in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

 

30 For My yoke is easy

and My burden is light.”

 

A call to discipleship,

 a invitation to enter the kingdom of God,

 through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

   “Yoke”

 Through living obedient to God’s word,

 we are yoked together with Jesus.

 

   “Burden”

 As we walk with Jesus,

 Jesus carries our burdens.

Matthew Chapter 12

 

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath


1 At that time

Jesus went through the

grain fields on the Sabbath.

And His disciples were hungry,

and began to pluck heads of

grain and to eat.

 

2 And when

the Pharisees saw

it, they said to Him, “Look,

Your disciples are doing what is

not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”

 

3 But He said to them,

“Have you not read what

David did when he was hungry,

he and those who were with him:

 

4 how he entered the house

of God and ate the show bread

which was not lawful for him to eat,

nor for those who were with him,

but only for the priests?

 

“Show bread”

Twelve loaves of bread

dedicated to the service of God.

 

5 Or have

you not read

in the law that on the

Sabbath the priests in

the temple profane the

Sabbath, and are blameless?

 

The priests did ministry

work on the sabbath,

a day all Jews rested.

 In the service of God

we are sinless. In the

presence of God

sin cannot exist in us.

 

6 Yet I say to you that in this place

there is One greater than the temple.

 

7 But if you

had known what this means,

‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’

you would not have condemned

the guiltless.

 

8 For the

Son of Man is Lord

even of the Sabbath.”

 

“Mercy”

Is not receiving

the punishment

we deserve.

 

  “Sacrifice”

There is no longer a

need for burnt sacrifice,

Jesus is our sacrifice for

the forgiveness of sin.

 

 “Hosea 6:6”

 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,

and the knowledge of God

more than burnt offerings.

 

  “Guiltless”

 Blameless, without fault.

 

  Jesus was speaking to the pharisees,

who were condemning the

guiltless disciples.


Healing on the Sabbath

9 Now when

He had departed from there,

He went into their synagogue.

 

10 And behold,

there was a man who

had a withered hand.

And they asked Him, saying,

“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

that they might accuse Him.

 

11 Then He said to them,

“What man is there among you

who has one sheep, and if it

falls into a pit on the Sabbath,

will not lay hold of it and lift it out?

 

12 Of how much more value

then is a man than a sheep?

Therefore it is lawful to do

good on the Sabbath.”

 

13 Then He

said to the man,

“Stretch out your hand.”

And he stretched it out,

and it was restored

as whole as the other.

 

14 Then the Pharisees went

out and plotted against Him,

how they might destroy Him.

 

Behold, My Servant

15 But when Jesus knew it,

He withdrew from there. And

great multitudes followed Him,

and He healed them all.

 

16 Yet He warned them

not to make Him known,

 

17 that it

might be fulfilled

which was spoken by

Isaiah the prophet, saying:

 

Sometimes when Jesus healed, He

asked them not to publicize their healing,

to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 42:1-4.

 

18 “Behold! My Servant

whom I have chosen, my Beloved

in whom My soul is well pleased!

I will put My Spirit upon Him, and

He will declare justice to the Gentiles.

 

19 He will not quarrel

nor cry out, nor will anyone

hear His voice in the streets.


20 A bruised reed

He will not break,

and smoking flax

He will not quench, till

He sends forth justice

to victory;

 

21 And in His name

Gentiles will trust.”

 

“My servant”

Is Jesus.

 

  “Justice”

fairness, impartiality,

made right with God.

 

  “a bruised reed”

The poor and needy,

a broken hearted

and repented person.

  “Smoking flax”

a spark of faith,

that can be fanned

into a flame.

  “Victory”

The victory is,

when we receive Jesus

as our Saviour and Lord.

A House Divided Cannot Stand

22 Then one

was brought to Him

who was demon-possessed,

blind and mute; and He healed him,

so that the blind and mute man

both spoke and saw.

 

“Demon-possessed”

 One who serves the devil.

 “James 4:7”

 Therefore submit to God,

resist the devil and he

will flee from you.

 

“Submit to God”

In prayer.

 

23 And

all the multitudes

were amazed and said,

“Could this be the Son of David?”

 

24 Now

when the Pharisees

heard it they said,

“This fellow does not cast out

demons except by beelzebub,

the ruler of the demons.”

 

The pharisees blasphemed against

the Holy Spirit, the unpardonable sin.

 

“Mark 3:28-30”

  “Assuredly, I say to you,

all sins will be forgiven the sons of men,

and whatever blasphemies they may utter,

but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit

never has forgiveness, but is subject to

eternal condemnation,” because they said,

He has an unclean spirit.

 

25 But Jesus knew their

thoughts, and said to them:

“Every kingdom divided against

itself is brought to desolation,

and every city or house

divided against itself

will not stand."

 

26 If satan casts out satan,

he is divided against himself.

How then will his kingdom stand?

 

27 And if

I cast out demons

by beelzebub, by whom

do your sons cast them out?

Therefore they shall be

your judges.

 

“Your sons”

Are the pharisees sons,

that were exorcists.

 

28 But if

I cast out demons

by the Spirit of God,

surely the kingdom of God

has come upon you.

 

29 Or how

can one enter a

strong man’s house and

plunder his goods, unless

he first binds the strong man?

And then he will plunder his house.

 

“Luke 10:17”

 Then the seventy returned with joy,

saying, Lord, even the demons

are subject to us in Your name.

 

30 He who

is not with Me is

against Me, and he

who does not gather

with Me scatters abroad.

 

The Unpardonable Sin

31 “Therefore I say to you,

every sin and blasphemy will

be forgiven men, but the

blasphemy against the Spirit

will not be forgiven men.

 

32 Anyone

who speaks a word

against the Son of Man,

it will be forgiven him;

but whoever speaks

against the Holy Spirit,

it will not be forgiven him,

either in this age or in the

age to come.

 

The pharisees accused Jesus

of doing miracles by the aid of the devil,

and thus speaking against the Holy Spirit.

 The pharisees gave credit to the devil for what

was achieved by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 Calling good evil and evil good, is blasphemy

against the Holy Spirit, the unpardonable sin.


A Tree Known by Its Fruit

33 “Either

make the tree good

and its fruit good, or

else make the tree bad

and its fruit bad; for a

tree is known by its fruit.

 

“Tree”

a person, or prophet.

 

  “Matthew 7:15-20”

 Beware of false prophets, who

come to you in sheep’s clothing, but

inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You

will know them by their fruits. Do men

gather grapes from thorn bushes

or figs from thistles. Even so,

every good tree bears good fruit,

but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,

nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

 Every tree that does not bear good

fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

 

  “Fruit”

“John 15:1-8”

 “I am the true vine,

and My Father is the vine dresser.

 Every branch in Me that does not

bear fruit He takes away, and every

branch that bears fruit He prunes,

that it may bear more fruit. You are

already clean because of the word

which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me,

and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit

of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither

can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine,

you are the branches.  He who abides in Me,

and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me

you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide

in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered,

and they gather them and throw them into the fire,

and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My

words abide in you, you will ask what you desire,

and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father

is glorified, that you bear much fruit,

so you will be My disciples.

 

“Galatians 5:22-23”

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love,

joy, peace, long suffering, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,

self-control. Against such there

is no law.

 

As Christians,

we must accept

the fruits of the Spirit.

 This is not an option, to

refuse the fruits of the Spirit,

is to refuse God’s presence in us.   

 

34 Brood

of vipers! How can you,

being evil, speak good things?

For out of the abundance of the

heart the mouth speaks.

 

35 A good man out

of the good treasure

of his heart brings

forth good things,

and an evil man

out of the evil

treasure brings

forth evil things.

 

If satan is your master, evil is spoken.

 If Jesus is your master, good is spoken.

 Submit your heart to God,

and your mouth will speak life.

 

36 But I say

to you that for every

idle word men may speak,

they will give account of it

in the day of judgment.

“Idle word”

Dangerous words spoken,

without the presents of the Holy Spirit

the knowledge of God is not spoken.

37 For by your words

you will be justified,

and by your words

you will be condemned.”


“Justified”

to be made right with God.

  “Condemned”

Is to refuse

Jesus gift of salvation.


The Scribes and Pharisees Ask for a Sign

38 Then some of the scribes

and Pharisees answered, saying,

“Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

39 But He

answered and said to them,

“An evil and adulterous generation

seeks after a sign, and no sign

will be given to it except

the sign of the prophet Jonah.

40 For as

Jonah was three days

and three nights in the belly

of the great fish, so will

the Son of Man

be three days and

three nights in the

heart of the earth.

 

41 The men of Nineveh

will rise up in the judgment

with this generation and

condemn it, because they repented

at the preaching of Jonah;

and indeed a greater than

Jonah is here.

 

42 The queen of the South

will rise up in the judgment with

this generation and condemn it,

for she came from the ends of the

earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon;

and indeed a greater than

Solomon is here.

 

An Unclean Spirit Returns

43 “When an unclean spirit

goes out of a man, he goes

through dry places, seeking rest,

and finds none.

 

44 Then he says,

‘I will return to my house

from which I came.’

And when he comes,

he finds it empty, swept,

and put in order.

 

45 Then he goes and takes

with him seven other spirits

more wicked than himself,

and they enter and dwell there;

and the last state of that man

is worse than the first.

So shall it also be with

this wicked generation.”

 

This is discipleship,

casting out and filling up.

 When the demons are cast out,

make sure the space is filled with

the presents of the living word,

Jesus Christ. Make sure your

heart and mind are filled

with God’s word.


Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Send for Him

46 While

He was still talking

to the multitudes, behold,

His mother and brothers

stood outside, seeking

to speak with Him.

 

47 Then one

said to Him,

“Look, Your mother and

Your brothers are standing outside,

seeking to speak with You.”

 

48 But He answered

and said to the one who told Him,

“Who is My mother and

who are My brothers?”

 

49 And He

stretched out His hand

toward His disciples and said,

“Here are My mother and My brothers!

 

Believers,

are the family of God.

 

50 For whoever does the will

of My Father in heaven is My

brother and sister and mother.”

 

“The will of My Father”

Is to receive Jesus as Saviour

and Lord of our life.

Matthew Chapter 13

 

The Parable of the Sower


1 On the same

day Jesus went out

of the house and sat by the sea.

 

2 And great

multitudes were gathered

together to Him, so that He got into

boat and sat; and the whole

multitude stood on the shore.

 

3 Then He

spoke many things

to them in parables, saying:

“Behold, a sower went out to sow."

 

“Parable”

A parable is a teaching,

with a spiritual meaning, that can

be understood only with God’s help.

 

  The Holy Spirit is our helper today

 

“John 14:26”

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit,

whom the Father will send in My name,

He will teach you all things, and bring

to your remembrance all things

that I said to you.”

 

   “Sower”

Christians are sowers,

witnessing Jesus salvation

message today.

 

4 And as he sowed,

some seed fell by the wayside;

and the birds came and

devoured them.

 

5 Some fell on stony places,

where they did not have much earth;

and they immediately sprang up

because they had no depth of earth.

 

6 But when the sun was

up they were scorched,

and because they had no

root they withered away.

 

7 And some

fell among thorns,

and the thorns sprang up

and choked them.

 

8 But others

fell on good ground and

yielded a crop: some a hundredfold,

some sixty, some thirty.

 

9 He who

has ears to hear,

let him hear!”
 

“The parable of the sower”

Jesus explains this parable,

in verses 18-23.


The Purpose of Parables


10 And the

disciples came and said to Him,

“Why do You speak to them in parables?”

 

Jesus explains why He spoke in parables,

in verses 11-17 and 34-35.


11 He

answered and said to them,

“Because it has been given

to you to know the mysteries

of the kingdom of heaven,

but to them it has not

been given."

 

As believers, we rejoice,

as we receive the mysteries

of the kingdom of heaven.

 Through the gifts of the

Holy Spirit, understanding

of the parables, is given

to believers.

12 For whoever has,

to him more will be given,

and he will have abundance;

but whoever does not have

even what he has will be

taken away from him.

 

It is important to pray,

listen to Jesus, and read our Bible

every day.

Otherwise we lose what we have.

 We must spend time, one-on-one,

with the Lord.

 

  “John 8:31-32”

Then Jesus said to those

Jews who believed Him,

“If you abide in My word,

you are My disciples indeed.

 And you shall know the truth,

and the truth shall make you free,”

 

13 Therefore

I speak to them in parables,

because seeing they do not see,

and hearing they do not hear,

nor do they understand.

 

14 And in

them the prophecy of

Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and

shall not understand,

and seeing you will

see and not perceive;
 

15 For the

hearts of this people

have grown dull. Their ears

are hard of hearing, and

their eyes they have closed,

lest they should see with their

eyes and hear with their ears,

lest they should understand

with their hearts and turn,

so that I should heal them.’

 

Verses 13-15 Jesus explains

why He spoke in parables.

16 But blessed

are your eyes for they see,

and your ears for they hear;

 

17 for assuredly, I say to you

that many prophets and righteous

men desired to see what you see,

and did not see it, and to hear

what you hear, and did

not hear it.

 

If we abide in God’s word,

and seek to live in His presence,

moment by moment, He will give

us eyes to see, and ears to hear.

Thank you Jesus.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 “Therefore hear

the parable of the sower:

 

19 When anyone hears

the word of the kingdom,

and does not understand it,

then the wicked one comes and

snatches away what was sown

in his heart. This is he who

received seed by the wayside.

 

20 But he who

received the seed

on stony places, this is

he who hears the word

and immediately receives

it with joy;

 

21 yet he has

no root in himself, but

endures only for a while.

For when tribulation or

persecution arises

because of the word,

immediately he stumbles.

 

22 Now he

who received seed

among the thorns is he who

hears the word, and the cares of

this world and the deceitfulness

of riches choke the word, and

he becomes unfruitful.

 

23 But he who received seed

on the good ground is he who

hears the word and understands

it, who indeed bears fruit and

produces: some a hundredfold,

some sixty, some thirty.”


“Verses 18-23”

Jesus explains

the parable of the sower.

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

24 Another parable

He put forth to them, saying:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man

who sowed good seed in his field;

 

25 but while men slept,

his enemy came and sowed tares

among the wheat and went his way.

 

26 But when the grain

had sprouted and produced a crop,

then the tares also appeared.

 

27 So the servants of the owner

came and said to him, ‘Sir, did

you not sow good seed in your field?

How then does it have tares?’

 

28 He said to them,

‘An enemy has done this.’

The servants said to him,

‘Do you want us then to go

and gather them up?’

 

29 But he said, ‘No,

lest while you gather up the tares

you also uproot the wheat with them.

 

30 Let both

grow together

until the harvest, and

at the time of harvest

I will say to the reapers,

“First gather together the tares

and bind them in bundles

to burn them, but gather

the wheat into my barn.”

 

“Verses 24-30”

“The parable of the wheat and the tares.”

 Jesus explains this parable in verses 36-43.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

31 Another parable He

put forth to them, saying:

“The kingdom of heaven

is like a mustard seed,

which a man took and

sowed in his field,

 

32 which

indeed is the least

of all the seeds; but when it

is grown it is greater than the

herbs and becomes a tree,

so that the birds of the air

come and nest in its branches.”

 

“Verses 31-32”

“The parable of the mustard seed”

 To each believer, God gives a seed of faith.

 As we live our faith, our faith continues to

grow, and believers become a shelter,

to those who need God’s love,

to God be the glory.


The Parable of the Leaven


33 Another

parable He spoke to them:

“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven,

which a woman took and

hid in three measures of meal

till it was all leavened.”

 

“The parable of the leaven”

In this parable, the Holy Spirit is likened

to leaven, (yeast), when the yeast was

added to the meal,it became what it

was to be, bread. When theHoly Spirit

enters into man, he becomes what he

was created to be, a child of God. The

Holy Spirit, like the leaven, cannot be

hidden.The presence of the Holy Spirit

is always revealed.


Prophecy and the Parables

34 All these

things Jesus spoke

to the multitude in parables;

and without a parable He did

not speak to them,

 

35 that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken by the prophet,

saying:“I will open My mouth in parables;
I will utter things kept secret from the

foundation of the world.”

 

Let us rejoice!

Jesus teaches us all we need to know,

and spiritually reveals the secrets

of the kingdom of heaven, to

all who receive and abide,

in the truth of His word.


The Parable of the Tares Explained

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude

away and went into the house.

And His disciples came to Him,

saying, “Explain to us the parable

of the tares of the field.”

37 He answered

and said to them:

“He who sows the good seed

is the Son of Man.

 

38 The field is the world,

the good seeds are the

sons of the kingdom,

but the tares are the

sons of the wicked one.

 

39 The

enemy who sowed

them is the devil,

the harvest is

the end of the age,

and the reapers are

the angels.

 

40 Therefore as the tares

are gathered and burned

in the fire, so it will be at

the end of this age.

 

41 The Son

of Man will

send out His angels,

and they will gather

out of His kingdom

all things that offend,

and those who practice

lawlessness,

 

“Lawlessness”

Those not living obedient

to God’s word.

 

42 and will cast them

into the furnace of fire.

There will be wailing and

gnashing of teeth.

 

43 Then the righteous

will shine forth as the sun

in the kingdom of their Father.

He who has ears to hear,

let him hear!

 

Verses 36-43, Jesus explains

the parable of the wheat and tares.


The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

44 “Again, the

kingdom of heaven is

like treasure hidden in a field,

which a man found and hid;

and for joy over it he goes

and sells all that he has

and buys that field.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is

like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,

 

46 who, when

he had found one pearl of

great price, went and sold all that

he had and bought it.

 

“The parable of the hidden treasure”

And

“The parable of the pearl of great price”

 

We must be willing to

forsake all we cannot keep,

to gain all that we must not lose.

 The kingdom of God, and eternal life.

 

 “Luke 14:33”

“So likewise, whoever of you

does not forsake all that he has

cannot be My disciple.”

 

The Parable of the Dragnet

47 “Again, the

kingdom of heaven

is like a dragnet that was

cast into the sea and gathered

some of every kind,

 

48 which,

when it was full,

they drew to shore;

and they sat down and

gathered the good into vessels,

but threw the bad away.

 

49 So it will be

at the end of the age.

The angels will come forth, separate

the wicked from among the just,

 

50 and cast them

into the furnace of fire.

There will be wailing and

gnashing of teeth.”

 

“Verses 47-50”

“The parable of the dragnet”

This is a parable of judgment

in the end times,

explained by Jesus.


51 Jesus said to them,

“Have you understood all these things?”

They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
 

52 Then

He said to them,

“Therefore every scribe

instructed concerning

the kingdom of heaven

is like a householder

who brings out of his

treasure things new and old.”

 

When God blesses

you to hear, and see,

He calls you to be His scribe,

to share what fills your heart.

 Blessed is he who answers the call,

with God’s word, with new,

and old understandings.

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth


53 Now

it came to pass,

when Jesus had finished

these parables, that

He departed from there.

 

54 When He

had come to His own country,

He taught them in their synagogue,

so that they were astonished and said,

“Where did this Man get this wisdom

and these mighty works?

 

55 Is this

not the carpenter’s son?

Is not His mother called Mary?

And His brothers James,

Joses, Simon, and Judas?

 

56 And His sisters,

are they not all with us?

Where then did this Man

get all these things?”

 

57 So they

were offended at Him

 But Jesus said to them

“A prophet is not without honor

except in his own country

and in his own house.”

 

“Verse 57”

is more easily understood

in the New English Version.

 “A prophet will always be held in honor,

except in his hometown and in

his own family.”

 

  “John 4:44”

For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet

has no honor in his own country.   

 

58 Now He did not do many mighty

works there because of their unbelief.

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